Automated rivet apparatus for automated installation of semi-tubular fastener rivets

ABSTRACT

There is provided an automated rivet apparatus for installing a semi-tubular fastener rivet. The apparatus includes a numerical control (NC) drilling and riveting machine and a controller. The NC drilling and riveting machine includes a lower head having a lower pressure bushing, a lower drill spindle, and a lower anvil to apply an upset force to a tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet. The NC drilling and riveting machine further includes an upper head having an upper pressure bushing, an upper drill spindle, and an upper anvil that holds the semi-tubular fastener rivet to insert the semi-tubular fastener rivet in a rivet-receiving hole. The lower drill spindle countersinks the rivet-receiving hole from a lower side of a workpiece. The controller directs movement of a nose of the lower anvil to apply the upset force and form a predetermined flare contour in the tail portion within a lower countersink.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to an apparatus and method forinstallation of fastener rivets in composite structures, and moreparticularly, to an automated rivet apparatus and method for automatedinstallation of semi-tubular fastener rivets in composite structures.

BACKGROUND

Known fasteners in the form of rivets, bolts, and the like, are used innumerous applications in the aerospace, automotive, construction, andother industries, to fasten one structure to another structure. Forexample, in the aerospace industry, fasteners in the form of rivets aretypically used to fasten aircraft structures, such as wing panels,fuselage panels, and tail panels, together, or to a substructure, and tofabricate structural assemblies. A single aircraft may incorporatehundreds of thousands of fasteners in the form of rivets, and in thecase of very large aircraft may incorporate over a million of suchfasteners.

In aircraft manufacturing and assembly, composites structures are oftenused to form the wings, fuselage, tail sections, and other components.Installation of solid rivets, that is, rivets with a solid shank or bodyportion, is typically avoided in composite structures, such as carbonfiber structures, because radial expansion of the rivet's shank maycrack or delaminate the composite fibers of the composite structure.This, in turn, may result in decreased strength of the fastened parts.

Semi-tubular fastener rivets, that is, rivets with a hollow end orhollow opening in the shank at the tail portion of the rivet, may beinstalled in composite structures without the issues associated withsolid rivet installation. Known methods and devices for manualinstallation of semi-tubular fastener rivets, or hollow-ended rivets,exist. However, such manual installation of semi-tubular fastenerrivets, or hollow-ended rivets, may require the use of multipleindividual processes and tools, such as drills, countersinks, gauges,and squeeze devices, for example, the use of bulky, non-ergonomicallydesigned hand tools. Each process of such manual installation may haveinherent issues that may result in oversized holes, irregular squeeze orflares, and potential costly rework. In addition, with manualinstallation, flaring of the tail portion of the hollow-ended rivetduring installation may result in a cracked flared tail portion, and thequality of the flaring may be difficult to maintain. Further, suchmanual installation may take minutes, for example, typically 7 minutesor more, for installation of a single hollow-ended rivet into thecomposite structure. This may result in increased installation cycletime and increased labor in the rivet installation process, and in turn,may increase the overall cost of aircraft manufacturing and assembly.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an apparatus and method forautomated installation of semi-tubular fastener rivets, or hollow-endedrivets, in composite structures that eliminate the need to manuallyinstall the semi-tubular fastener rivets, or hollow-ended rivets, thatreduce installation cycle time and costly rework, that eliminate the useof bulky, non-ergonomically designed hand tools, that provide highquality automatic flaring of the tail portion of the semi-tubularfastener rivet, or hollow-ended rivet, without cracks or damage, andthat provide significant advantages over known apparatuses and methods.

SUMMARY

Example implementations of this disclosure provide an apparatus andmethod for installing a semi-tubular fastener rivet in a compositestructure. As discussed in the below detailed description, versions ofthe apparatus and method may provide significant advantages over knownapparatuses and methods.

In one exemplary version, there is provided an automated rivet apparatusfor installing a semi-tubular fastener rivet. The automated rivetapparatus comprises a numerical control drilling and riveting machine.

The numerical control drilling and riveting machine comprises a lowerhead. The lower head comprises a lower pressure bushing configured toclamp a workpiece against an upper pressure bushing. The lower headfurther comprises a lower drill spindle configured to countersink arivet-receiving hole from a lower side of the workpiece. The lower headfurther comprises a lower anvil that is movable and configured to applyan upset force to a tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet. Thelower anvil is coupled to a load cell for providing a signal indicativeof a level of the upset force applied by the lower anvil.

The numerical control drilling and riveting machine further comprises anupper head. The upper head comprises the upper pressure bushingconfigured to contact an upper side of the workpiece. The upper headfurther comprises an upper drill spindle for drilling therivet-receiving hole in the upper side of the workpiece and forcountersinking the rivet-receiving hole, to obtain an upper countersinkof the rivet-receiving hole. The upper head further comprises an upperanvil that holds the semi-tubular fastener rivet and is movable betweena retracted position and an installation position, in which the upperanvil is aligned to insert the semi-tubular fastener rivet in therivet-receiving hole. The lower drill spindle on the lower head isconfigured to countersink the rivet-receiving hole from the lower sideof the workpiece, to obtain a lower countersink of the rivet-receivinghole.

The automated rivet apparatus further comprises a controller, configuredto control the upper drill spindle to drill and to countersink therivet-receiving hole from the upper side of the workpiece, andconfigured to control the lower drill spindle to countersink therivet-receiving hole from the lower side of the workpiece, andconfigured to control moving the upper anvil to the installationposition, to install the semi-tubular fastener rivet in therivet-receiving hole. The controller is configured to control moving thelower anvil to apply the upset force to the tail portion of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet installed in the rivet-receiving hole,without exceeding a predetermined upset force. The controller is furtherconfigured to direct movement of a nose of the lower anvil within thelower countersink of the rivet-receiving hole to a nominal distancebeyond a lower surface plane of a lower surface on the lower side of theworkpiece, such that the nose of the lower anvil applies the upset forceto the tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet and forms apredetermined flare contour in the tail portion within the lowercountersink, and such that the predetermined flare contour is beneaththe lower surface of the workpiece.

In another exemplary version, there is provided a method for automatedinstallation of a semi-tubular fastener rivet. The method comprisescontrolling, using a controller, a numerical control drilling andriveting machine having an upper head and a lower head, to controlmovement of a lower pressure bushing on the lower head, to apply aclamping force to hold a workpiece against an upper pressure bushing onthe upper head.

The method further comprises controlling, using the controller, an upperdrill spindle on the upper head, to drill a rivet-receiving hole from anupper side of the workpiece and to countersink the rivet-receiving hole,to obtain an upper countersink of the rivet-receiving hole. The methodfurther comprises controlling, using the controller, a lower drillspindle on the lower head, to countersink the rivet-receiving hole froma lower side of the workpiece, to obtain a lower countersink of therivet-receiving hole. The method further comprises controlling, usingthe controller, movement of an upper anvil on the upper head from aretracted position to an installation position, in which the upper anvilis aligned to insert the semi-tubular fastener rivet in therivet-receiving hole. The method further comprises controlling, usingthe controller, movement of a lower anvil, to apply an upset force to atail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet installed in therivet-receiving hole, the controller monitoring a load cell forproviding a signal indicative of a level of the upset force applied bythe lower anvil.

The controller is configured to control movement of the lower anvil toapply the upset force to the tail portion of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet installed in the rivet-receiving hole, without exceeding apredetermined upset force. The controller is further configured todirect movement of a nose of the lower anvil within the lowercountersink of the rivet-receiving hole to a nominal distance beyond alower surface plane of a lower surface on the lower side of theworkpiece, such that the nose of the lower anvil applies the upset forceto the tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet and forms apredetermined flare contour in the tail portion within the lowercountersink, and such that the predetermined flare contour is beneaththe lower surface of the workpiece.

The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can beachieved independently in various versions of the disclosure or may becombined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seenwith reference to the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure can be better understood with reference to the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate preferred and exemplary versions, but which are notnecessarily drawn to scale, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a functional block diagram showing anexemplary automated rivet apparatus for installing semi-tubular fastenerrivets in a workpiece;

FIG. 2A is an illustration of a front perspective view of a version ofan automated rivet apparatus of the disclosure;

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a left side partial perspective view ofthe automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a top perspective view of a lower pressurebushing mounted on a lower head of the automated rivet apparatus of FIG.2A;

FIG. 3B is an illustration of a top perspective view of the lowerpressure bushing of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is an illustration of a right side enlarged perspective view ofa portion of a lower head of the automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 2A,showing a lower pressure bushing, a lower drill spindle, and a loweranvil;

FIG. 4B is an illustration of a left side perspective view of theportion of the lower head of FIG. 4A, showing the lower pressurebushing, the lower drill spindle, and the lower anvil;

FIG. 4C is an illustration of a front perspective view of the loweranvil of FIG. 4B;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a front perspective view of an upper headof the automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 2A, including an upper pressurebushing, an upper drill spindle, and an upper anvil;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a bottom perspective view of the upperpressure bushing of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a front partial perspective view of theupper drill spindle of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8A is an illustration of a front partial perspective view of theupper anvil of FIG. 5 mounted in the upper head;

FIG. 8B is an illustration of a front perspective view of the upperanvil of FIG. 8A;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a version of a controller used to controlthe automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 10A is an illustration of a perspective bottom side view of anexemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet that may be installed in aworkpiece with the automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 2A;

FIG. 10B is an illustration of a perspective top side view of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10C is an illustration of a cross-sectional front view of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10D is an illustration of a top view of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet of FIG. 10A;

FIG. 10E is an illustration of a perspective front view of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet of FIG. 10A having a flared tail portionafter flaring;

FIG. 10F is an illustration of a bottom view of the flared tail portionof the semi-tubular fastener rivet of FIG. 10E;

FIG. 11A is an illustration of a cross-sectional front view of anexemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet installed in a workpiece, wherethe semi-tubular fastener rivet has an unflared tail portion;

FIG. 11B is an illustration of a cross-sectional front view of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet of FIG. 11A installed in the workpiece,where the semi-tubular fastener rivet has a flared tail portion;

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a front perspective view of an exemplarycontoured rivet die used to flare a tail portion of a semi-tubularfastener rivet;

FIG. 13 is an illustration of a bottom view of a workpiece showing tailportions of semi-tubular fastener rivets prior to a flaring action andafter the flaring action;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of a bottom view of a workpiece showingrivet-receiving holes with a counterbored countersink;

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a cross-sectional front view of anexemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet with a flared tail portioninstalled in a rivet-receiving hole having a counterbored countersink ina workpiece;

FIG. 16A is an illustration of a front perspective view of a workpiecepositioned in an automated rivet apparatus, prior to drilling andcountersinking of the workpiece and prior to installation of asemi-tubular fastener rivet in the workpiece;

FIG. 16B is an illustration of a front perspective view of the workpieceof FIG. 16A clamped in the automated rivet apparatus by a lower pressurebushing clamping the workpiece against an upper pressure bushing;

FIG. 16C is an illustration of a front perspective view of the workpieceof FIG. 16B being drilled and countersunk by an upper drill spindle;

FIG. 16D is an illustration of a front perspective view of the workpieceof FIG. 16C being countersunk by a lower drill spindle, after the upperdrill spindle is retracted;

FIG. 16E is an illustration of a front perspective view of the workpieceand automated rivet apparatus of FIG. 16D, where an upper anvil and alower anvil are moved to installation positions, prior to installing asemi-tubular fastener rivet in the rivet-receiving hole;

FIG. 16F is an illustration of a front perspective view of the workpieceof FIG. 16E, where the upper anvil and the lower anvil install asemi-tubular fastening rivet in the workpiece;

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a flow diagram showing an exemplaryversion of a method of the disclosure;

FIG. 18 is an illustration of a perspective view of an air vehicleincorporating a riveted structure having semi-tubular fastener rivetswith flared tail portions riveted using a method of automatedinstallation and an automated rivet apparatus of the disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a version of an aircraft manufacturing andservice method; and

FIG. 20 is an illustration of a functional block diagram of a version ofan aircraft.

The Figures shown in this disclosure represent various aspects of theversions presented, and only differences will be discussed in detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed versions or examples will now be described more fullyhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some,but not all of the disclosed versions are shown. Indeed, severaldifferent versions may be provided and should not be construed aslimited to the versions set forth herein. Rather, these versions areprovided so that this disclosure will be thorough and fully convey thescope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

Now referring to the Figures, FIG. 1 is an illustration of a functionalblock diagram showing an exemplary version of an automated rivetapparatus 10 for installing, via automated installation 12, one or moresemi-tubular fastener rivets 14, or hollow-ended rivets, in a structure16, such as a workpiece 18. FIG. 2A is an illustration of a frontperspective view of a version of the automated rivet apparatus 10 of thedisclosure, and FIG. 2B is an illustration of a left side partialperspective view of the automated rivet apparatus 10 of FIG. 2A.

The automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) preferablycomprises a numerical control (NC) drilling and riveting machine 10 a(see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B). For example, the automated rivet apparatus 10 maycomprise an apparatus, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,042,137 and5,222,289, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entireties.

As shown in FIG. 1, the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18 (see alsoFIGS. 11A, 16A), preferably comprises a composite workpiece 18 a (seealso FIGS. 11A, 16A). An exemplary version of the workpiece 18, such asthe composite workpiece 18 a, may comprise an aircraft trailing-edgecontrol surface 18 b (see FIG. 1), or another suitable aircraft controlsurface or structure.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18,has an upper side 20 (see also FIGS. 11A, 16A) with an upper surface 22(see also FIGS. 11A, 16A) disposed substantially in an upper surfaceplane 24 (see also FIG. 11A). As further shown in FIG. 1, the structure16, such as the workpiece 18, has a lower side 26 (see also FIGS. 11A,16A) with a lower surface 28 (see also FIGS. 11A, 16A) disposedsubstantially in a lower surface plane 30 (see also FIG. 11A). Asfurther shown in FIG. 1, the workpiece 18 has a workpiece thickness 32(see also FIG. 16A).

As further shown in FIG. 1, the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18,preferably comprises a first upper piece 34 (see also FIGS. 11A, 16B),or plate, having a first side 36 a and a second side 36 b, and a secondlower piece 38 (see FIGS. 11A, 16B), or plate, having a first side 40 aand a second side 40 b. As shown in FIG. 1, the first upper piece 34 ofthe workpiece 18 preferably comprises a first composite piece 34 a (seealso FIG. 11A), such as in the form of a first composite aircraftcomponent 34 b. As further shown in FIG. 1, the second lower piece 38 ofthe workpiece 18 preferably comprises a second composite piece 38 a (seealso FIG. 11A), such as in the form of a second composite aircraftcomponent 38 b. The first upper piece 34, such as the first compositepiece 34 a, for example, the first composite aircraft component 34 b,and the second lower piece 38, such as the second composite piece 38 a,for example, the second composite aircraft component 38 b, are fastenedtogether with one or more semi-tubular fastener rivets 14 (see FIGS. 1,11A-11B). An exemplary version of the workpiece 18, such as in the formof the aircraft trailing-edge control surface 18 b, is comprised of thefirst composite aircraft component 34 b fastened to the second compositeaircraft component 38 b, with one or more semi-tubular fastener rivets14.

Although the workpiece 18 shown in FIGS. 1, 11A-11B, and 16B comprisestwo pieces, including the first upper piece 34, or plate, and the secondlower piece 38, or plate, fastened or secured together with one or moresemi-tubular fastener rivets 14, the workpiece may comprise more thantwo pieces, or plates, fastened or secured together with one or moresemi-tubular fastener rivets 14. During drilling and riveting operationsperformed by the automated rivet apparatus 10, the workpiece 18 isdisposed substantially in a horizontal plane 42 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A-2B, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, comprises aframe 44 coupled to a lower head 46 and an upper head 48. As shown inFIGS. 2A-2B, the lower head 46 is spaced apart from, and positionedopposite to, the upper head 48. The lower head 46 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B)comprises a lower pressure bushing 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) mounted on,and coupled to, a platform 62 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) of the lower head 46(see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B).

Now referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, FIG. 3A is an illustration of a topperspective view of the lower pressure bushing 50 mounted on theplatform 62 of the lower head 46 of the automated rivet apparatus 10 ofFIG. 2A, and FIG. 3B is an illustration of a top perspective view of thelower pressure bushing 50 of FIG. 3A. As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the lowerpressure bushing 50 has a cylindrical body portion 52 coupled to aflange bottom portion 54. As further shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, thecylindrical body portion 52 has an end opening 56 with an engagementsurface 58 configured to engage and contact a lower surface portion 28 a(see FIGS. 1, 16A-16B) of the lower side 26 (see FIGS. 1, 16A-16B) ofthe workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16A-16B). As shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, theengagement surface 58 is positioned above the cylindrical body portion52. The flange bottom portion 54 has a bottom end 60 (see FIG. 3B)configured to mount to the platform 62 (see FIG. 3A) of the lower head46 (see FIG. 3A). A diameter 64 (see FIG. 3B) of the end opening 56 (seeFIG. 3B) is of a sufficient size to allow the contacting ends 66 (seeFIGS. 4A-4B) of tools 68 (see FIGS. 2A-2B, 4A-4B) coupled to theautomated rivet apparatus 10 to pass through the end opening 56, duringdrilling and riveting operations performed on the workpiece 18.

The lower pressure bushing 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B, 3A-3B, 16B) isconfigured to clamp the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16B) against an upperpressure bushing 70 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B, 6, 16B) of the upper head 48,and coupled to the upper head 48, with a clamping force 72 (see FIG. 1).As shown in FIG. 16B, the lower surface portion 28 a of the lower side26 of the workpiece 18 is clamped adjacent to, and against, the lowerpressure bushing 50, for example, against the engagement surface 58 (seeFIG. 3B) of the lower pressure bushing 50, and the upper surface portion22 a of the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18 is clamped adjacent to,and against, the upper pressure bushing 70, for example, against theengagement surface 73 (see FIG. 6) of the upper pressure bushing 70. Theclamping force 72 applied by the lower pressure bushing 50 to clamp theworkpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70 may be in a range of100 lbs. (one hundred pounds) to 1000 lbs. (one thousand pounds),depending on the type and size of the structure 16 (see FIG. 1), such asthe workpiece 18 (see FIG. 1), being clamped. Once the workpiece 18 isclamped between the lower pressure bushing 50 and upper pressure bushing70, a measurement 200 (see FIG. 1) of a distance 202 (see FIG. 1)between the upper pressure bushing 70 and the lower pressure bushing 50,representing the workpiece thickness 32, may be obtained.

The lower head 46 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) further comprises tools 68 (see FIG.2A), including, a lower drill spindle 74 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) and a loweranvil 76 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), and the upper head 48 (see FIGS. 1, 2A)further comprises tools 68 (see FIG. 2A), including an upper drillspindle 78 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) and an upper anvil 80 (see FIGS. 1, 2A).The centricity requirements for the tools 68, including the lower drillspindle 74, the lower anvil 76, the upper drill spindle 78, and theupper anvil 80 is important. Preferably, the upper tools, including theupper drill spindle 78 (for holding a drill having a drilling tip 164(see FIG. 7) with a contacting end 66 (see FIG. 7) for contacting theworkpiece 18) and the upper anvil 80, are concentric within 0.005 inchwith the lower tools, including the lower drill spindle 74 and the loweranvil 76.

The upper drill spindle 78 (see FIGS. 1, 7, 16C) is configured fordrilling, and drills, a rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11A, 16C)in a portion 20 a (see FIG. 16C) of the upper side 20 (see FIGS. 1, 16C)of the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16C). The upper drill spindle 78 isfurther configured for countersinking, and countersinks, therivet-receiving hole 82, to obtain an upper countersink 84 (see FIGS. 1,11A) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. Preferably, the rivet-receivinghole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 14) is a clearance fit rivet-receiving hole 82 a(see FIGS. 1, 11A). As used herein, “clearance fit rivet-receiving hole”means the rivet-receiving hole has a slightly larger diameter than adiameter of a shaft of a semi-tubular fastener rivet, to enable theshaft of the semi-tubular fastener rivet to slide into therivet-receiving hole, when the semi-tubular fastener rivet is installedin the workpiece. The flaring of a tail portion 120 (see FIG. 1) of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 1) facilitates retaining thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 in the rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIG.1).

The lower drill spindle 74 (see FIGS. 1, 4A, 16D) is configured forcountersinking a portion 26 a (see FIG. 16D) of the lower side 26 (seeFIGS. 1, 16D) of the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16D). The lower drillspindle 74 is configured to countersink or counterbore therivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 13, 15, 16D) from the lower side26 of the workpiece 18, to obtain a lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1,13, 15) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. The lower countersink 86 (seeFIGS. 1, 13, 15) is a counterbored countersink 87 (see FIGS. 1, 13, 15).

The upper drill spindle 78 and the upper anvil 80 may be normalized tothe upper surface 22 (see FIGS. 1, 16A) of the upper side 20 (see FIGS.1, 16A, 16B) of the workpiece 18 to approximately +/−1° (plus or minusone degree). The lower drill spindle 74 and the lower anvil 76 may benormalized to the lower surface 28 (see FIGS. 1, 16A) of the lower side26 (see FIGS. 1, 16A) of the workpiece 18 to approximately +/−1° (plusor minus one degree).

Now referring to FIGS. 4A-4C, FIG. 4A is an illustration of a right sideenlarged perspective view of a portion 46 a of the lower head 46 of theautomated rivet apparatus 10, such as the numerical control drilling andriveting machine 10 a, of FIG. 2A, showing the lower pressure bushing50, a tool 68 such as the lower drill spindle 74, and a tool 68 such asthe lower anvil 76, for example, a movable lower anvil 76 a. FIG. 4B isan illustration of a left side perspective view of the portion 46 a ofthe lower head 46 of FIG. 4A, showing the lower pressure bushing 50, thelower drill spindle 74, and the lower anvil 76, such as the movablelower anvil 76 a. FIG. 4C is an illustration of a front perspective viewof the lower anvil 76, such as the movable lower anvil 76 a, of FIG. 4B.

FIGS. 4A-4B show the lower pressure bushing 50 mounted on the platform62 at a height that is above the lower drill spindle 74 and above thelower anvil 76. The lower drill spindle 74 (see FIGS. 4A, 16B) isconfigured to be movable, and is movable, so that it can be moved, orshuttled, to a position directly under the lower pressure bushing 50(see FIGS. 4A-4B, 16B), and is configured to be aligned, and is aligned,with the end opening 56 (see FIGS. 4A-4B, 16B) of the lower pressurebushing 50, and is configured to be aligned, and is aligned, with theportion 26 a (see FIG. 16D) of the lower side 26 (see FIG. 16D) of theworkpiece 18 (see FIG. 16D) and with the rivet-receiving hole 82, duringthe drilling operation and the countersinking or counterboring operationof the lower side 26 of the workpiece 18. The lower drill spindle 74 isconfigured to move, and moves, from a retracted position 88 a (see FIG.16A) to a lower countersinking position 88 b (see FIG. 16B), so that thelower drill spindle 74 is aligned in an aligned position 90 (see FIG.16B) with the end opening 56 (see FIGS. 1, 3A, 16B) of the lowerpressure bushing 50 (see FIGS. 1, 3A, 16B) and aligned with therivet-receiving hole 82.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the lower drill spindle 74 comprises a pilot tip 92for countersinking or counterboring the rivet-receiving hole 82 from thelower side 26 of the workpiece 18, and comprises a body 94 that issubstantially cylindrical in shape and is coupled to a cylinder 96. Thecylinder 96 may be hydraulic or pneumatic and is configured to move thelower drill spindle 74 toward, and away from, the lower side 26 of theworkpiece 18. The lower drill spindle 74 is preferably powered with amotor 98 (see FIG. 1), for example, an electric motor or a hydraulicmotor, in a motor housing (not shown) with an output shaft (not shown),or may be powered with another suitable power means.

FIGS. 4A-4C further show the tool 68, such as the lower anvil 76, forexample, the movable lower anvil 76 a. The lower anvil 76 (see FIGS.4A-4C) comprises a first end portion 100 a (see FIGS. 4A-4C) and asecond end portion 100 b (see FIG. 4C). As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, thelower anvil 76 further comprises a nose 102 at the top of the first endportion 100 a, and a body portion 104 coupled between the first endportion 100 a and the second end portion 100 b. In one exemplaryversion, the body portion 104 is generally cylindrical in shape and hasa flared lower portion 106 (see FIGS. 4B-4C) configured to fit within arecess 108 (see FIG. 4B) of a ring flange 110 (see FIG. 4B) coupled tothe lower head 46 (see FIG. 4B). As shown in FIG. 4C, in one exemplaryversion, the lower anvil 76 further comprises a base portion 112extending downward from the flared lower portion 106 of the body portion104 to the second end portion 100 b.

The lower anvil 76 (see FIGS. 4A-4B), such as the movable lower anvil 76a (see FIGS. 4A-4B), is configured to move upwardly and downwardlythrough the end opening 56 (see FIGS. 4A-4B) of the lower pressurebushing 50 (see FIGS. 4A-4B), where the nose 102 (see FIG. 4B) providesa contacting end 66 (see FIG. 4B) to contact the rivet-receiving hole 82(see FIG. 16F) in the lower side 26 (see FIGS. 1, 16F) of the workpiece18 (see FIGS. 1, 16F). The lower anvil 76 is configured to move, andmoves, from a retracted position 114 a (see FIGS. 4B, 16A) to aninstallation position 114 b (see FIG. 16E), so that the lower anvil 76is aligned in an aligned position 116 (see FIGS. 1, 16E) with the endopening 56 (see FIGS. 1, 3A, 16E) of the lower pressure bushing 50 (seeFIGS. 1, 3A, 16E), and aligned with the rivet-receiving hole 82.

The lower anvil 76 is configured to apply, and applies, an upset force118 (see FIG. 1), (also referred to as squeeze force or flare force), toa tail portion 120 (see FIGS. 1, 11B, 13) of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 (see FIGS. 1, 10A, 11B, 13) installed in the rivet-receivinghole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11B, 13), without exceeding a predetermined upsetforce 118 a (see FIG. 1). The lower anvil 76 is configured to use, anduses, a contoured rivet die 122 (see FIGS. 1, 12). The upset force 118is applied with the nose 102 (see FIGS. 4A-4C) of the lower anvil 76,via the contoured rivet die 122, to flare the tail portion 120 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 outwardly. The upset force 118, such asthe predetermined upset force 118 a, is preferably in a range of 3000lbs. (three thousand pounds) to 9000 lbs. (nine thousand pounds),depending on the size of a hole diameter 124 (see FIG. 10C) of a hole230 (see FIG. 10C) of the tail portion 120 and depending on a diameter125 (see FIG. 10C) of the tail portion 120, such as an unflared tailportion 120 a (see FIG. 10C), of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. Thecontoured rivet die 122 applies the upset force 118, via the lower anvil76, to upset or flare the tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 outwardly toward a lower countersink surface 86 a (see FIG.11A) of the lower countersink 86 (see FIG. 11A), to move the tailportion 120 beyond the hole diameter 124 (see FIG. 10C) of the tailportion 120 in an unflared position 126 (see tail portion 120 in theunflared position 126 or state, as shown in FIGS. 10A, 11A, 13), so thatthe tail portion 120 is formed in a flared position 128 (see tailportion 120 in the flared position 128 or state, as shown FIGS. 10E,11B, 13), thus avoiding applying a compressive force and smashing thecenter of a semi-tubular fastener rivet and smashing into the compositematerial of a composite workpiece.

The contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12) is configured to form a flarecontour 130 (see FIGS. 1, 10E, 11B, 13), such as a predetermined flarecontour 130 a (see FIGS. 1, 10E, 11B, 13), of the tail portion 120 ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. The flare contour 130, such as thepredetermined flare contour 130 a, preferably comprises a generallytrumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b (see FIGS. 1, 10E, 11B, 13) in thetail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. Thus, the tailportion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is caused to undergo aflaring action 132 (see FIG. 1) within the lower countersink 86 (seeFIGS. 1, 11B, 13) of the rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11B, 13)by the lower anvil 76 using the contoured rivet die 122. The nose 102(see FIGS. 1, 4A-4C) of the lower anvil 76 is configured to move, andmoves, within the lower countersink 86 of the rivet-receiving hole 82 toa nominal distance 134 (see FIG. 1) beyond a lower surface plane 30 (seeFIGS. 1, 11A) of the lower surface 28 (see FIG. 1) on the lower side 26(see FIG. 1) of the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 1), such that the nose 102 ofthe lower anvil 76 applies the upset force 118 (see FIG. 1) to the tailportion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and forms thepredetermined flare contour 130 a (see FIG. 11B) in the tail portion 120(see FIG. 11B) within the lower countersink 86 (see FIG. 11B), and suchthat the predetermined flare contour 130 a is beneath the lower surface28 of the workpiece 18. Thus, the lower anvil 76 moves past the lowersurface plane 30 (see FIG. 11A) the nominal distance 134 and just enoughfor the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12) to outwardly flare thetail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 that protrudesslightly out of the rivet-receiving hole 82.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, furthercomprises a load cell 136 located within the lower head 46 of theautomated rivet apparatus 10. The load cell 136 monitors the upset force118 applied by the lower anvil 76 to the tail portion 120 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 installed in the rivet-receiving hole 82in the workpiece 18. The load cell 136 provides a signal 138 (seeFIG. 1) indicative of a level 119 (see FIG. 1) of the upset force 118applied by the lower anvil 76.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, furthercomprises a lower ram assembly 140. As shown in FIG. 2A, the lower anvil76 is preferably coupled to the load cell 136, via the lower ramassembly 140, which houses multiple components. The lower ram assembly140 is positioned within, and runs through, the lower head 46, and thelower ram assembly 140 has a top end 142 a (see FIG. 2A) and a bottomend 142 b (see FIG. 2A). As shown in FIG. 2A, the lower anvil 76 ispreferably seated or mounted on the top end 142 a of the lower ramassembly 140, and the load cell 136 is preferably located at the bottomend 142 b of the lower ram assembly 140. The lower ram assembly 140 isconfigured to move, and moves, the lower anvil 76 toward and away fromthe lower side 26 (see FIG. 16F) of the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 16F)having the rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIG. 16F) with the tail portion120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. The lower ram assembly 140may be moved or driven with an electric motor (not shown).Alternatively, the lower ram assembly 140 may be moved with a hydrauliccylinder (not shown), a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), or anothersuitable moving means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, furthercomprises a lower indexing head 144 coupled to the lower head 46. Thelower indexing head 144 is configured to move, and moves, the lowerdrill spindle 74 toward, and away from, a lower countersinking position88 b (see FIG. 16B), and the lower indexing head 144 is configured tomove, and moves, the lower anvil 76 toward, and away from, aninstallation position 114 b (see FIG. 16E).

Now referring to FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the upper head 48 of the automated rivet apparatus10, such as the numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, ofFIG. 2A, showing the upper pressure bushing 70, the tool 68 such as theupper drill spindle 78, and the tool 68 such as the upper anvil 80. Asshown in FIG. 5, the upper head 48, coupled to the frame 44, may bemoved via a track system 148 (see also FIGS. 2A-2B). As further shown inFIG. 5, the upper pressure bushing 70 comprises a cylindrical bodyportion 150 coupled to a flange bottom portion 152. As further shown inFIG. 5, the cylindrical body portion 150 has an end opening 154, and theflange bottom portion 152 has an upper head engagement end 156. Asfurther shown in FIG. 5, the upper drill spindle 78 comprises a drillingtip 164, a body 166 coupled to the drilling tip 164, a cylinder 168coupled to the body 166, and a motor 169 for powering the upper drillspindle 78.

Now referring to FIG. 6, FIG. 6 is an illustration of a bottomperspective view of the upper pressure bushing 70 of FIG. 5. As shown inFIG. 6, the upper pressure bushing 70 comprises the cylindrical bodyportion 150 coupled to the flange bottom portion 152. The cylindricalbody portion 150 has the end opening 154 with an engagement surface 73configured to engage and contact the upper surface portion 22 a (seeFIGS. 1, 16B) of the upper side 20 (see FIGS. 1, 16B) of the workpiece18 (see FIGS. 1, 16B). As shown in FIG. 6, the engagement surface 73 isin a horizontal plane that is at a different level than a horizontalplane of the cylindrical body portion 150. The flange bottom portion 152(see FIG. 6) has the upper head engagement end 156 (see FIG. 6)configured to mount to the upper head 48 (see FIG. 5). A diameter 158(see FIG. 6) of the end opening 154 (see FIG. 6) is of a sufficient sizeto allow contacting ends 66 (see FIGS. 2A, 7, 8B) of tools 68 (see FIGS.2A, 7, 8B) coupled to the automated rivet apparatus 10 to pass throughthe end opening 154 during drilling and riveting operations performed onthe workpiece 18. As shown in FIG. 16B, the upper surface portion 22 aof the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18 is clamped adjacent to, andagainst, the upper pressure bushing 70, for example, adjacent to, andagainst the engagement surface 73 (see FIG. 6) of the upper pressurebushing 70.

Now referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is an illustration of a front partialperspective view of the upper drill spindle 78 of FIG. 5. The upperdrill spindle 78 (see FIGS. 5, 17, 6C) is configured for drilling, anddrills, the rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11A, 14, 16C) in theportion 20 a (see FIG. 16C) of the upper side 20 (see FIGS. 1, 16C) ofthe workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16C) and through the workpiece 18, andthe upper drill spindle 78 is configured for countersinking, andcountersinks, the rivet-receiving hole 82, to obtain the uppercountersink 84 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. Theupper drill spindle 78 is configured to move, and moves, from aretracted position 160 a (see FIG. 16E) to an upper drilling andcountersinking position 160 b (see FIG. 16B), so that the upper drillspindle 78 is aligned in an aligned position 162 (see FIG. 16B) with theend opening 154 (see FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 16B) of the upper pressure bushing70 (see FIGS. 1, 5, 16B) and aligned with the rivet-receiving hole 82(see FIG. 16B).

As shown in FIG. 7, the upper drill spindle 78 comprises the drillingtip 164 for drilling the rivet-receiving hole 82 in the upper side 20(see FIG. 16C) of the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 16C) and through theworkpiece 18. As further shown in FIG. 7, the upper drill spindle 78comprises the body 166 that is substantially cylindrical in shape and iscoupled to the cylinder 168. The body 166 is disposed between thedrilling tip 164 and the cylinder 168. The cylinder 168 may be hydraulicor pneumatic and is configured to move the upper drill spindle 78toward, and away from, the upper pressure bushing 70 and the upper side20 of the workpiece 18. The upper drill spindle 78 is preferably poweredwith the motor 169 (see FIGS. 1, 5), for example, an electric motor or ahydraulic motor, in a motor housing (not shown) with an output shaft(not shown), or may be powered with another suitable power means.

Now referring to FIGS. 8A-8B, FIG. 8A is an illustration of a frontpartial perspective view of the upper anvil 80, such as the movableupper anvil 80 a, of FIG. 5, mounted in a portion 48 a of the upper head48, and FIG. 8B is an illustration of a front perspective view of theupper anvil 80 of FIG. 8A. FIGS. 8A-8B show the tool 68, such as theupper anvil 80, for example, the movable upper anvil 80 a, comprising anelongated body portion 170 and a biasing coil spring 172 disposed aroundthe body portion 170. The biasing coil spring 172 extends between anupper portion 174 a (see FIG. 8B) and a lower portion 174 b (see FIG.8B) of the upper anvil 80, and is generally parallel to the upward anddownward direction of movement of the upper anvil 80. As shown in FIG.8B, the lower portion 174 b of the lower anvil 76 comprises a collar 176and two or more rivet-receiving fingers 178 for holding eachsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14. The individual semi-tubular fastenerrivets, one of which is designated 14 in FIG. 8B, are typically fed tothe upper anvil 80 by passing them downwardly from a rivet feederassembly 179 (see FIG. 1) coupled to the upper anvil 80. The rivetfeeder assembly 179 may comprise a bin (not shown) that feeds eachsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 through a feed tube (not shown) and thenlaterally one by one into the rivet-receiving fingers 178, which supporteach semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and insert it in and through therivet-receiving hole 82 formed in the workpiece 18 to be riveted. Thesemi-tubular fastener rivets 14 may be passed downwardly through thefeed tube by gravity alone, or by air pressure against the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 moving downwardly through the feed tube, as known inthe riveting machine art. The upper anvil 80 is preferably movabletoward and away from the upper side 20 (see FIG. 16E, 16F) of theworkpiece 18 (see FIGS. 16E, 16F), via a hydraulic, pneumatic, orelectric cylinder (not shown), or another suitable movement means.

The upper anvil 80 (see FIGS. 5, 8A-8B, 16E) is configured to hold, andholds, the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIGS. 8B, 16E). The upperanvil 80 is configured to move, and moves, from a retracted position 180a (see FIG. 16D) to an installation position 180 b (see FIGS. 16E, 16F),so that the upper anvil 80 is aligned in an aligned position 182 (seeFIG. 16E) with the end opening 154 (see FIGS. 1, 6, 16E) of the upperpressure bushing 70 (see FIGS. 1, 6, 16E) and aligned with therivet-receiving hole 82, so that the upper anvil 80 may insert thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the rivet-receivinghole 82 (see FIG. 16E) of the workpiece 18. The upper anvil 80preferably receives the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 when in theretracted position 180 a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 16E, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, furthercomprises an upper indexing head 184. Once the upper drill spindle 78has drilled and countersunk the rivet-receiving hole 82 in the upperside 20 of the workpiece 18, the upper indexing head 184 (see FIGS. 1,16E), moves the upper drill spindle 78 away from the aligned position162 (see FIG. 16B) with the upper pressure bushing 70 and therivet-receiving hole 82, and moves the upper anvil 80 from the retractedposition 180 a (see FIG. 16D) to the installation position 180 b (seeFIG. 16E), where the upper anvil 80 is aligned in the aligned position182 (see FIG. 16E) with the upper pressure bushing 70 and therivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIG. 16E). As shown in FIG. 16F, discussedin detail below, the upper anvil 80 then extends downwardly and insertsthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 into the rivet-receiving hole 82 ofthe workpiece 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, furthercomprises an upper ram assembly 186 (see also FIG. 16E). The upper ramassembly 186 is coupled to the upper head 48 (see FIG. 2B), and theupper ram assembly 186 has a lower end 188 a (see FIG. 2B) coupled tothe upper anvil 80. The upper ram assembly 186 is configured to move theupper anvil 80 toward and away from the upper side 20 (see FIG. 16E) ofthe workpiece 18 (see FIG. 16E) having the rivet-receiving hole 82. Theupper ram assembly 186 may be moved or driven with an electric motor(not shown). Alternatively, the upper ram assembly 186 may be moved witha hydraulic cylinder (not shown), a pneumatic cylinder (not shown), oranother suitable moving means.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the automated rivet apparatus 10, such asthe numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, is coupled toa control system 190 and controlled with a controller 192 of the controlsystem, 190. Now referring to FIG. 9, FIG. 9 is an illustration of aversion of the control system 190 comprising a controller 192 used tocontrol the automated rivet apparatus 10 of FIG. 2A. As shown in FIGS.2A and 9, the control system 190 comprises the controller 192 and one ormore connector elements 194 connecting the controller 192 of the controlsystem 190 to the automated rivet apparatus 10. The connector elements194 may comprise electrical wire connector elements, electrical wirelessconnector elements, or another suitable type of connector element. Thecontroller 192 may also be connected to a source of electric power (notshown) by one of the connector elements 194. An operator may operate thecontrol system 190 with the controller 192 remotely at a remote locationfrom the automated rivet apparatus 10, or may operate the control system190 with the controller 192 at a nearby location in close proximity tothe automated rivet apparatus 10. The control system 190 may furthercomprise a keyboard (not shown), or other means to input data, and thecontroller 192 may further comprise various control devices which may beused for dialing in measurement or force information, or other suitableinformation.

The controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 9) is configured to control theupper drill spindle 78 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) to drill and to countersink therivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIG. 1) from the upper side 20 (see FIG. 1)of the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 1). The controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A,9) is further configured to control the lower drill spindle 74 (seeFIGS. 1, 2A) to countersink the rivet-receiving hole 82 from the lowerside 26 of the workpiece 18. The controller 192 is further configured tocontrol moving the upper anvil 80 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) to the installationposition 180 b (see FIG. 16E), to install the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 (see FIGS. 8B, 10A, 16E) in the rivet-receiving hole 82 (seeFIGS. 11A, 16E).

The controller 192 is further configured to control moving the loweranvil 76 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) to apply the upset force 118 (see FIG. 1) tothe tail portion 120 (see FIGS. 1, 10A, 10C) of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 (see FIGS. 1, 10A, 10C) installed in therivet-receiving hole 82, without exceeding a predetermined upset force118 a (see FIG. 1). The controller 192 is further configured to directmovement 196 (see FIG. 1) of the nose 102 (see FIGS. 1, 4B) of the loweranvil 76 within the lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1, 11A, 15) of therivet-receiving hole 82 to the nominal distance 134 (see FIG. 1) beyonda lower surface plane 30 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the lower surface 28 (seeFIG. 1) on the lower side 26 (see FIG. 1) of the workpiece 18, such thatthe nose 102 of the lower anvil 76 applies the upset force 118 to thetail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and forms thepredetermined flare contour 130 a (see FIGS. 1, 11B) in the tail portion120 within the lower countersink 86, and such that the predeterminedflare contour 130 a is beneath the lower surface 28 of the workpiece 18.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 190 of the automated rivetapparatus 10 further comprises a measurement component 198 configured todetermine a measurement 200 of a distance 202 between the upper pressurebushing 70 and the lower pressure bushing 50, representing the workpiecethickness 32 (see also FIG. 16A). The controller 192 is configured todetermine the workpiece thickness 32 within which a zone constraint 204(see FIG. 1) is defined by the controller 192 for limiting travel 206(see FIG. 1) of the lower anvil 76 in the direction of moving towardsthe installation position 114 b (see FIG. 16E), to avoid collision 208(see FIG. 1) with the workpiece 18. The controller 192 is furtherconfigured to direct movement 210 (see FIG. 1) beyond the zoneconstraint 204 of the nose 102 of the lower anvil 76 into the lowercountersink 86 of the rivet-receiving hole 82, to apply the upset force118 to the tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, suchthat the lower anvil 76 causes flaring of the tail portion 120 withinthe lower countersink 86 of the rivet-receiving hole 82.

Now referring to FIGS. 10A-10F, FIG. 10A is an illustration of aperspective bottom side view of an exemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet14, such as a titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, having anunflared tail portion 120 a before flaring, and that may be installed ina workpiece 18 (see FIG. 1) with the automated rivet apparatus 10 ofFIG. 2A. The semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 may also be referred to as ahollow-ended rivet. FIG. 10B is an illustration of a perspective topside view of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, of FIG. 10A. FIG. 10C is anillustration of a cross-sectional front view of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14, such as the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14a, of FIG. 10A. FIG. 10D is an illustration of a top view of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titanium semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 a, of FIG. 10A. FIG. 10E is an illustration of aperspective front view of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such asthe titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, of FIG. 10A, having aflared tail portion 120 b after flaring. FIG. 10F is an illustration ofa bottom view of the flared tail portion 120 b of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14, such as the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14a, of FIG. 10E.

As shown in FIGS. 10A-10C, 10E, and 10F, the semi-tubular fastener rivet14, such as the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, comprises thetail portion 120. FIG. 10A shows the tail portion 120, such as theunflared tail portion 120 a, in an unflared position 126. FIGS. 10E and10F show the tail portion 120, such as a flared tail portion 120 b, in aflared position 128. The semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as thetitanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, further comprises a headportion 222 (see FIGS. 10A-10E), and a shank portion 224 (see FIGS.10A-10C, 10D) disposed between the head portion 222 and the tail portion120. As shown in FIGS. 10B-10D, the head portion 222 has a centralopening 226 in a top end 228 of the head portion 222.

As shown in FIGS. 10A, 10C, and 10E, the tail portion 120 has a hole 230comprising a hollow area 232 within the tail portion 120 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14. As shown in FIG. 10C, the hole 230 inthe tail portion 120, such as the unflared tail portion 120 a, of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titanium semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 a, has a hole diameter 124. As further shown in FIG.10C, the tail portion 120, such as the unflared tail portion 120 a, hasa diameter 125 that is greater than the hole diameter 124. The hole 230comprising the hollow area 232 is configured to receive, and receives,the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12), when the lower anvil 76 (seeFIGS. 1, 4C) uses the contoured rivet die 122 to form the flare contour130 (see FIG. 10E), such as the predetermined flare contour 130 a (seeFIG. 10E), comprising the generally trumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b(see FIG. 10E) in the tail portion 120 (see FIG. 10E), such as theflared tail portion 120 b (see FIG. 10E), of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 (see FIG. 10E). When the tail portion 120 is flared from theunflared tail portion 120 a (see FIG. 10C) to the flared tail portion120 b (see FIG. 10E), the hole diameter 124 (see FIG. 10C) at theentrance to the hole 230, and the diameter 125 (see FIG. 10C) of thetail portion 120 at the end of the tail portion 120 both increase insize.

Grip length selection of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and propergrip length is important for a fastened structural joint. If the griplength is too short, the tension characteristics may not be achieved,and if the grip length is too long, the rivet may prematurelymalfunction, also due to tension characteristics. Preferably, the griplength of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, where the tail portion 120 has ahollow area 232 or a hollow end, is approximately 0.03 inch. Incontrast, the grip length for a solid rivet with no hollow end or hollowarea in the shank is approximately 0.060 inch. As used herein, “griplength” means the length of the unthreaded portion of a shank portion ofa semi-tubular fastener rivet, or hollow-ended rivet.

Now referring to FIGS. 11A-11B, FIG. 11A is an illustration of across-sectional front view of an exemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet14, such as a titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, installed in aworkpiece 18, where the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 has the tailportion 120 in the form of the unflared tail portion 120 a, in theunflared position 126, prior to undergoing a flaring action 132 (seeFIG. 1). FIG. 11B is an illustration of a cross-sectional front view ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titanium semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 a, of FIG. 11A, installed in the workpiece 18, wherethe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 has the tail portion 120 in the formof the flared tail portion 120 b, in the flared position 128, afterundergoing the flaring action 132 (see FIG. 1) with the lower anvil 76and the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12). FIG. 11B shows the flaredtail portion 120 b having a flare contour 130, such as a predeterminedflare contour 130 a, for example, a generally trumpet-shaped flarecontour 130 b.

As shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such asthe titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, having the hole 230 inthe tail portion 120 is installed in the rivet-receiving hole 82, suchas the clearance fit rivet-receiving hole 82 a, that has been drilledthrough the structure 16, comprising the workpiece 18. As further shownin FIGS. 11A-11B, and as discussed above, the structure 16, such as theworkpiece 18, preferably comprises a composite workpiece 18 a having anupper side 20 with an upper surface 22. The upper surface 22 is disposedsubstantially in an upper surface plane 24 (see FIG. 11A). As furthershown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18, hasa lower side 26 with a lower surface 28. The lower surface 28 isdisposed substantially in a lower surface plane 30 (see FIG. 11A). Asfurther shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the structure 16, such as the workpiece18, comprises a first upper piece 34 preferably comprising a firstcomposite piece 34 a, and comprises a second lower piece 38 preferablycomprising a second composite piece 38 a. As shown in FIG. 11A, thefirst upper piece 34 has a first side 36 a and a second side 36 b, andthe second lower piece 38 has a first side 40 a and a second side 40 b.The first upper piece 34, such as the first composite piece 34 a, andthe second lower piece 38, such as the second composite piece 38 a, arefastened together with the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. The secondside 36 b of the first upper piece 34 is adjacent the first side 40 a ofthe second lower piece 38.

As further shown in FIGS. 11A-11B, the head portion 222 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is positioned in the upper countersink84, and the top end 228 of the head portion 222 is substantially flush(e.g., 0.002-0.003 inch flush) with the upper surface plane 24 (see FIG.11A) of the upper surface 22 on the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18,when the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is installed in therivet-receiving hole 82. The rivet-receiving hole 82 is countersunk withthe upper drill spindle 78 (see FIG. 1), to obtain the upper countersink84 (see FIGS. 11A-11B) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. Therivet-receiving hole 82 is further countersunk with the lower drillspindle 74 (see FIG. 1), to obtain the lower countersink 86 (see FIGS.11A-11B) having a lower countersink surface 86 a (see FIG. 11A), of therivet-receiving hole 82.

Now referring to FIG. 12, FIG. 12 is an illustration of a frontperspective view of an exemplary contoured rivet die 122 used to flarethe tail portion 120, such as the unflared tail portion 120 a (see FIG.11A), of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, to obtain the flared tail portion 120b (see FIG. 11B). As shown in FIG. 12, the contoured rivet die 122comprises a first end portion 234 a, a second end portion 234 b, and abody portion 236 disposed between the first end portion 234 a and thesecond end portion 234 b. The first end portion 234 a (see FIG. 12) ofthe contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12) applies a force, via the loweranvil 76 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), to the tail portion 120 (see FIG. 11B) toflare the tail portion 120 outwardly, and to form a contour 238 a (seeFIG. 11B) in the hole 230 (see FIG. 11B) of the tail portion 120 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 11B) that is the same as acontour 238 b (see FIG. 12) of the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG.12).

Now referring to FIG. 13, FIG. 13 is an illustration of a bottom view ofa lower surface 28 of a lower side 26 of a structure 16, such as aworkpiece 18, for example, a composite workpiece 18 a, showing tailportions 120 of semi-tubular fastener rivets 14, such as titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivets 14 a, prior to undergoing a flaring action132 (see FIG. 1) and after undergoing the flaring action 132.

FIG. 13 shows the tail portion 120, such as the unflared tail portion120 a, of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, in the unflared position 126,installed in the rivet-receiving hole 82, in the workpiece 18, prior toundergoing the flaring action 132 (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 13, therivet-receiving hole 82 has the lower countersink 86 with the lowercountersink surface 86 a that the unflared tail portion 120 a will flareoutwardly toward and into after undergoing the flaring action 132, viathe upset force 118 (see FIG. 1) applied by the lower anvil 76 (seeFIG. 1) using the contoured rivet die 122.

FIG. 13 further shows tail portions 120, such as flared tail portions120 b, of semi-tubular fastener rivets 14, such as titanium semi-tubularfastener rivets 14 a, in the flared position 128, installed inrivet-receiving holes 82 in the workpiece 18, after undergoing theflaring action 132, in which the upset force 118 has been applied by thelower anvil 76. As further shown in FIG. 13, the flared tail portion 120b has the flare contour 130, such as the predetermined flare contour 130a, for example, the generally trumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b.

Now referring to FIG. 14, FIG. 14 is an illustration of a bottom view ofa lower surface 28 of a lower side 26 of a structure 16, such as aworkpiece 18, for example, a composite workpiece 18 a, showingrivet-receiving holes 82, such as clearance fit rivet-receiving holes 82a, having a lower countersink 86 comprising a counterbored countersink87, i.e., counterbored countersunk rivet-receiving holes. FIG. 14 showsthe tail portion 120, such as the flared tail portion 120 b, in thecounterbored countersink 87. As used herein, “counterbored countersink”means a countersink, such as a deep countersink, with a straight edge ona side wall, for example, a 90° (ninety degree) angle from the surface,such as lower surface 28 (see FIG. 14), into the material of theworkpiece. The counterbored countersink 87 provides space for the flaredtail portion 120 b to flare outwardly beneath the lower surface 28. Thelower drill spindle 74 (see FIG. 1) is configured to countersink therivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIG. 14) from the lower side 26 (see FIG.14), to obtain the lower countersink 86 (see FIG. 14) of a desired sizeand shape, where the lower countersink 86 may comprise a counterboredcountersink 87 (see FIG. 14).

Now referring to FIG. 15, FIG. 15 is an illustration of across-sectional front view of an exemplary semi-tubular fastener rivet14, such as the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, having thetail portion 120, such as the flared tail portion 120 b, in the flaredposition 128, installed in the rivet-receiving hole 82, such as theclearance fit rivet-receiving hole 82 a, having the counterboredcountersink 87 in a structure 16, such as a workpiece 18, for example acomposite workpiece 18 a. As shown in FIG. 15, the head portion 222 ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is adjacent an upper countersink 84of the rivet-receiving hole 82. As further shown in FIG. 15, the flaredtail portion 120 b is adjacent the lower countersink surface 86 a of thelower countersink 86 of the rivet-receiving hole 82 with thecounterbored countersink 87.

As further shown in FIG. 15, the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18,for example, the composite workpiece 18 a, has the upper side 20 withthe upper surface 22, and has the lower side 26 with the lower surface28. As further shown in FIG. 15, the structure 16, such as the workpiece18, comprises the first upper piece 34, preferably comprising the firstcomposite piece 34 a, and comprises the second lower piece 38,preferably comprising the second composite piece 38 a. As further shownin FIG. 15, the first upper piece 34, such as the first composite piece34 a, and the second lower piece 38, such as the second composite piece38 a, are fastened together with the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14.FIG. 15 further shows the hole 230 in the tail portion 120 of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and the contour 238 a of the hole 230formed from the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12). As further shownin FIG. 15, the flared tail portion 120 b has the flare contour 130,such as the predetermined flare contour 130 a, for example, thegenerally trumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b.

As further shown in FIG. 15, the head portion 222 of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 is positioned in the upper countersink 84, and the topend 228 of the head portion 222 is substantially flush (e.g.,0.002-0.003 inch flush) with the upper surface plane 24 (see FIGS. 1,11A) of the upper surface 22 on the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18,when the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is installed in therivet-receiving hole 82. The rivet-receiving hole 82 is countersunk withthe upper drill spindle 78 (see FIG. 1), to obtain the upper countersink84 (see FIG. 15) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. The rivet-receivinghole 82 is further countersunk with the lower drill spindle 74 (see FIG.1), to obtain the lower countersink 86 (see FIG. 15), that in oneversion, may be in the form of the counterbored countersink 87 (see FIG.15).

Now referring to FIGS. 16A-16F, which show various steps of an exemplaryautomated installation process 240, FIG. 16A is an illustration of afront perspective view of a structure 16, such as a workpiece 18, forexample, a composite workpiece 18 a, that is positioned in a positioningstep 240 a of the automated installation process 240, in an automatedrivet apparatus 10, such as a numerical control drilling and rivetingmachine 10 a, prior to drilling and countersinking of the workpiece 18,and prior to installation of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 in theworkpiece 18. As shown in FIG. 16A, the workpiece 18 comprising thefirst upper piece 34 initially coupled, such as by bonding or othersuitable coupling, to a second lower piece 38, is positioned between theengagement surface 73 of the upper pressure bushing 70 and theengagement surface 58 of the lower pressure bushing 50 of the automatedrivet apparatus 10. The workpiece 18 has a workpiece thickness 32 (seeFIG. 16A). As shown in FIG. 16A, the upper surface 22 of the upper side20 of the workpiece 18 faces the engagement surface 73 and the endopening 154 of the upper pressure bushing 70, and a lower surfaceportion 28 a of the lower surface 28 of the lower side 26 of theworkpiece 18 is in contact with the engagement surface 58 and the endopening 56 of the lower pressure bushing 50. FIG. 16A shows the lowerhead 46 with the tools 68 comprising the lower drill spindle 74 in theretracted position 88 a, and the lower anvil 76 in the retractedposition 114 a. FIG. 16A further shows the upper head 48 with the tools68 comprising the upper drill spindle 78, and the upper anvil 80 in theretracted position 180 a.

Now referring to FIG. 16B, FIG. 16B is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the structure 16, such as the workpiece 18, forexample, the composite workpiece 18 a, of FIG. 16A, that is clamped in aclamping step 240 b of the automated installation process 240, in theautomated rivet apparatus 10, such as the numerical control drilling andriveting machine 10 a, by the lower pressure bushing 50 clamping theworkpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70. As shown in FIG.16B, the workpiece 18 comprising the first upper piece 34 coupled to thesecond lower piece 38, is clamped between the upper pressure bushing 70and the lower pressure bushing 50 of the automated rivet apparatus 10.The lower pressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46 applies a clampingforce 72 (see FIG. 16B) to hold the workpiece 18 against the upperpressure bushing 70 on the upper head 48. As discussed above, theclamping force 72 applied by the lower pressure bushing 50 to clamp theworkpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70 is preferably in arange of 100 lbs. (one hundred pounds) to 1000 lbs. (one thousandpounds), depending on the type and size of the structure 16 (see FIG.16B), such as the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 16B), being clamped. As shownin FIG. 16B, the upper surface portion 22 a of the upper side 20 of theworkpiece 18 is in contact with the end opening 154 of the upperpressure bushing 70. As further shown in FIG. 16B, the lower surfaceportion 28 a of the lower side 26 of the workpiece 18 is in contact withthe end opening 56 of the lower pressure bushing 50. FIG. 16B furthershows the distance 202 between the upper pressure bushing 70 and thelower pressure bushing 50, representing the workpiece thickness 32 (seeFIGS. 1, 16A).

As the lower pressure bushing 50 clamps the workpiece 18 against theupper pressure bushing 70, the lower drill spindle 74 (see FIG. 16B) onthe lower head 46 is moved or shuttled to a lower countersinkingposition 88 b (see FIG. 16B) below the lower pressure bushing 50 andbelow the lower side 26 of the workpiece 18. As shown in FIG. 16B, thelower drill spindle 74, including the pilot tip 92 of the lower drillspindle 74, is aligned in an aligned position 90 with the end opening 56of the lower pressure bushing 50. The lower drill spindle 74 ispreferably normalized to the lower surface portion 28 a (see FIG. 16B)of the lower side 26 (see FIG. 16BA) of the workpiece 18 toapproximately +/−1° (plus or minus one degree).

FIG. 16B further shows the upper drill spindle 78 in an upper drillingand countersinking position 160 b positioned above the upper pressurebushing 70 and above the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18. As shown inFIG. 16B, the upper drill spindle 78, including the drilling tip 164 ofthe upper drill spindle 78, is in an aligned position 162 with the endopening 154 of the upper pressure bushing 70. The upper drill spindle 78is preferably normalized to the upper surface portion 22 a (see FIG.16B) of the upper side 20 (see FIG. 16B) of the workpiece 18 toapproximately +/−1° (plus or minus one degree). FIG. 16B further showsthe upper anvil 80 of the upper head 48 next to, and to the side of, theupper drill spindle 78.

Now referring to FIG. 16C, FIG. 16C is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the workpiece 18, such as the composite workpiece 18a, of FIG. 16B, that is being drilled and countersunk by the upper drillspindle 78 in an upper drill spindle drilling and countersinking step240 c of the automated installation process 240, using the automatedrivet apparatus 10, such as the numerical control drilling and rivetingmachine 10 a. As shown in FIG. 16C, the upper drill spindle 78 performsan upper drill spindle drilling and countersinking operation 242, byplunging the drilling tip 164 (see FIG. 16B) through the interior of theupper pressure bushing 70, through the end opening 154 (see FIG. 16B) ofthe upper pressure bushing 70, and through the upper surface 22 of thefirst upper piece 34, to drill and countersink a rivet-receiving hole 82into the portion 20 a of the upper side 20 of the workpiece 18 andthrough the workpiece 18. The controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) of thecontrol system 190 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) controls the movement 214 (seeFIG. 1) of the upper drill spindle 78 on the upper head 48, to drill therivet-receiving hole 82 from, and into, the portion 20 a of the upperside 20 of the workpiece 18, and to countersink the rivet-receiving hole82, to obtain the upper countersink 84 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of therivet-receiving hole 82. The rivet-receiving hole 82 preferablycomprises the clearance fit rivet-receiving hole 82 a (see FIGS. 1, 11A,15). FIG. 16C further shows the upper anvil 80 near the upper drillspindle 78, and shows the lower pressure bushing 50 in contact with thesecond lower piece 38 of the workpiece 18, and shows the lower drillspindle 74 of the lower head 46.

Now referring to FIG. 16D, FIG. 16D is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the workpiece 18, such as the composite workpiece 18a, of FIG. 16C, that is being countersunk by the lower drill spindle 74in a lower drill spindle countersinking step 240 d of the automatedinstallation process 240, using the automated rivet apparatus 10, suchas the numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, after theupper drill spindle 78 of the upper head 48 is retracted upwardly in anupper drill spindle retracting operation 244, where the drilling tip 164of the upper drill spindle 78 is retracted back through therivet-receiving hole 82, through the upper surface 22 of the first upperpiece 34 of the workpiece 18, through the end opening 154 (see FIG. 16B)of the upper pressure bushing 70, and through the upper pressure bushing70. FIG. 16D further shows the upper anvil 80 in a retracted position180 a.

As further shown in FIG. 16D, the lower drill spindle 74 of the lowerhead 46 performs a lower drill spindle countersinking operation 245, byplunging the pilot tip 92 of the lower drill spindle 74 through thelower pressure bushing 50, through the end opening 56 (see FIG. 16B),and through the lower surface 28 of the second lower piece 38, into theportion 26 a of the lower side 26 of the workpiece 18, to drill andcountersink the lower side of the rivet-receiving hole 82. Thecontroller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) of the control system 190 (see FIGS. 1,2A) controls the movement 216 (see FIG. 1) of the lower drill spindle 74on the lower head 46, to drill the rivet-receiving hole 82 from, andinto, the portion 26 a of the lower side 26 of the workpiece 18, and tocountersink the rivet-receiving hole 82, to obtain the lower countersink86 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the rivet-receiving hole 82. The lowercountersink 86 may comprise the counterbored countersink 87 (see FIGS.1, 14, 15).

Now referring to FIG. 16E, FIG. 16E is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the workpiece 18 and the automated rivet apparatus10, such as the numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a, ofFIG. 16D, where the upper drill spindle 78 and the lower drill spindle74 are moved to retracted positions 160 a, 88 a, respectively, and theupper anvil 80 and the lower anvil 76 are moved to installationpositions 180 b, 114 b, respectively, in a rivet installationpositioning step 240 e of the automated installation process 240, priorto the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 being installed in therivet-receiving hole 82.

As shown in FIG. 16E, the upper drill spindle 78 of the upper head 48 isretracted and moved, or shuttled, away from, and to the side of, theupper pressure bushing 70 to a retracted position 160 a that is not inalignment with the upper pressure bushing 70 and the rivet-receivinghole 82. The upper indexing head 184 (see FIG. 16E) preferably moves theupper drill spindle 78 to the retracted position 160 a to the side ofthe upper anvil 80.

The upper anvil 80 (see FIG. 16E) of the upper head 48 (see FIG. 16E) isthen moved, or shuttled, into the installation position 180 b (see FIG.16E) above the upper pressure bushing 70 and above the rivet-receivinghole 82. FIG. 16E shows the upper anvil 80 with a semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 within the interior of the upper anvil 80. The upper anvil 80is configured to receive, and receives, the semi-tubular fastener rivet14 from a rivet feeder assembly 179 (see FIG. 1) coupled to the upperanvil 80. The upper anvil 80 may receive, or be fed, the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 from the rivet feeder assembly 179, prior to the upperanvil 80 moving to the installation position 180 b (see FIG. 16E).

As shown in FIG. 16E, the upper anvil 80 is aligned in an alignedposition 182 with the end opening 154 of the upper pressure bushing 70and is aligned with the rivet-receiving hole 82 in the workpiece 18. Thecontroller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) controls the movement 218 (see FIG. 1)of the upper anvil 80 on the upper head 48 from the retracted position180 a (see FIG. 16D) to the installation position 180 b (see FIG. 16E),in which the upper anvil 80 is aligned in the aligned position 182 (seeFIG. 16E) with the end opening 154 (see FIG. 16E) of the upper pressurebushing 70 and with the rivet-receiving hole 82, to insert thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the rivet-receivinghole 82, so that the head portion 222 (see FIG. 11A) of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 is pressed against the upper countersink 84 (see FIG.11A).

As further shown in FIG. 16E, the lower drill spindle 74 of the lowerhead 46 is retracted and moved, or shuttled away from, the lowerpressure bushing 50 to the retracted position 88 a that is not inalignment with the lower pressure bushing 50 and the rivet-receivinghole 82, and the lower anvil 76 of the lower head 46 is moved, orshuttled into, the installation position 114 b below the lower pressurebushing 50 and below the rivet-receiving hole 82 in the workpiece 18. Asshown in FIG. 16E, the lower anvil 76 is aligned in an aligned position116 with the end opening 56 of the lower pressure bushing 50 and isaligned with the rivet-receiving hole 82. FIG. 16E further shows therivet-receiving hole 82 formed through the upper side 20 of the firstupper piece 34 and through the lower side 26 of the second lower piece38 of the workpiece 18.

In selecting a length for the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 to besufficiently and properly installed through and within the workpiece 18,the automated rivet apparatus 10 detects, or is programmed with, theworkpiece thickness 32 (see FIGS. 1, 6A) of the workpiece 18 to receivethe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14. Preferably, the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 has a length of approximately +/−0.005 inch (plus orminus 0.005 inch) relative to the workpiece thickness 32 of theworkpiece 18.

Now referring to FIG. 16F, FIG. 16F is an illustration of a frontperspective view of the workpiece 18, such as the composite workpiece 18a, and the automated rivet apparatus 10, such as the numerical controldrilling and riveting machine 10 a, of FIG. 16E, where the upper anvil80 and the lower anvil 76 perform a rivet installation step 240 f of theautomated installation process 240, to install the semi-tubularfastening rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the workpiece 18. As shown in FIG.16F, the upper anvil 80 of the upper head 48 moves downwardly from theinstallation position 180 b toward the upper pressure bushing 70 andtoward the upper side 20 of the first upper piece 34 of the workpiece18, to perform a rivet insertion operation 246 to insert or install thesemi-tubular fastening rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the rivet-receivinghole 82 that has been drilled and countersunk in the workpiece 18. FIG.16F further shows the upper drill spindle 78 to the side of the upperanvil 80.

The controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) of the control system 190 (seeFIGS. 1, 2A) controls the movement 218 (see FIG. 1) of the upper anvil80 from the retracted position 180 a (see FIG. 16D) to the installationposition 180 b (see FIGS. 16E, 16F), in which the upper anvil 80 isaligned in the aligned position 182 (see FIG. 16E) with the end opening154 (see FIG. 16E) of the upper pressure bushing 70 (see FIG. 16E) andaligned with the rivet-receiving hole 82, to insert the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the rivet-receiving hole 82. Whenthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is inserted into and installed in therivet-receiving hole 82 by the upper anvil 80, the head portion 222 (seeFIGS. 10A, 11A) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is positioned inthe upper countersink 84 (see FIG. 11A) and is substantially flush withthe upper surface plane 24 (see FIG. 11A) of the upper surface 22 (seeFIGS. 11A, 16D) on the upper side 20 (see FIG. 11A, 16F) of theworkpiece 18 (see FIG. 11A, 16F).

After the upper anvil 80 (see FIG. 16F) inserts the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 16E) in the rivet-receiving hole 82 (seeFIG. 16F), the lower anvil 76 (see FIG. 16F) of the lower head 46 (seeFIG. 16F) moves upwardly, via the lower ram assembly 140 (see FIG. 16F),from the installation position 114 b (see FIG. 16E) toward the lowerpressure bushing 50 (see FIG. 16B) and toward the lower side 26 (seeFIG. 16F) of the second lower piece 38 (see FIG. 16F) of the workpiece18 (see FIG. 16F), to perform an upset force application operation 248,whereby the lower anvil 76 applies the upset force 118 (see FIG. 16F),via the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12), to the tail portion 120(see FIGS. 10A, 10C, 11A) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (seeFIGS. 10A, 10C, 11A, 16E) installed in the rivet-receiving hole 82 (seeFIG. 16F), without exceeding a predetermined upset force 118 a (see FIG.1).

The controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) of the control system 190 (seeFIGS. 1, 2A) controls the movement 220 (see FIG. 1) of the lower anvil76 to apply the upset force 118 (see FIG. 16F), or rivet tail portionflaring force, to the tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14, and the controller 192 directs the movement 196 (see FIG. 1)of the nose 102 (see FIGS. 1, 4A-4C) of the lower anvil 76 within thelower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the rivet-receiving hole 82(see FIG. 16F) to the nominal distance 134 (see FIG. 1) beyond the lowersurface plane 30 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the lower surface 28 (see FIGS.1, 11A, 16D) on the lower side 26 (see FIGS. 1, 16F) of the workpiece 18(see FIGS. 1, 16F), such that the nose 102 (see FIG. 4A) of the loweranvil 76 applies the upset force 118 (see FIG. 16F) to the tail portion120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and forms the flare contour130 (see FIGS. 1, 11B), such as the predetermined flare contour 130 a(see FIGS. 1, 11B), in the tail portion 120 (see FIG. 11B) within thelower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1, 11B), and such that the predeterminedflare contour 130 a (see FIGS. 1, 11B) is beneath the lower surface 28of the workpiece 18.

The upset force 118 is applied with the nose 102 of the lower anvil 76(see FIG. 16F), via the contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12), to flarethe tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 outwardly.The upset force 118, such as the predetermined upset force 118 a, ispreferably in a range of 3000 lbs. (three thousand pounds) to 9000 lbs.(nine thousand pounds), depending on the size of the hole diameter 124(see FIG. 10C) of the hole 230 (see FIG. 10C) of the tail portion 120,and depending on the diameter 125 (see FIG. 10C) of the tail portion120, such as the unflared tail portion 120 a (see FIG. 10C), of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14.

FIG. 16F further shows the lower drill spindle 74 to the side of thelower anvil 76. The lower drill spindle 74 is in the retracted position88 a (see FIG. 16F).

After the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such as the titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a, is installed in the workpiece 18, andthe automated installation process 240 (see FIGS. 16A-16F) is completed,the workpiece 18 with the installed semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 isunclamped from between the upper pressure bushing 70 and the lowerpressure bushing 50, and the workpiece 18 is removed from the automatedrivet apparatus 10, such as the numerical control drilling and rivetingmachine 10 a. All of the steps in the automated installation process 240(see FIGS. 16A-16F) may be completed in about 7 (seven) seconds.

Now referring to FIG. 17, FIG. 17 is an illustration of a flow diagramshowing an exemplary version of a method 250 of the disclosure. There isprovided the method 250 (see FIG. 17) for automated installation 12 (seeFIG. 1), of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 1), such as thetitanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a (see FIG. 1). The blocks inFIG. 17 represent operations and/or portions thereof, or elements, andlines connecting the various blocks do not imply any particular order ordependency of the operations or portions thereof, or elements. FIG. 17and the disclosure of the steps of the method 250 set forth hereinshould not be interpreted as necessarily determining a sequence in whichthe steps are to be performed. Rather, although one illustrative orderis indicated, it is to be understood that the sequence of the steps maybe modified when appropriate. Accordingly, certain operations may beperformed in a different order or simultaneously.

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 comprises the step of controlling252, using the controller 192 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 9) of the control system190 (see FIG. 1), the automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B),such as the numerical control drilling and riveting machine 10 a (seeFIGS. 1, 2A-2B) having the upper head 48 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) and thelower head 46 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) to control movement 212 (see FIG. 1)of the lower pressure bushing 50 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B) on the lower head46, to apply the clamping force 72 (see FIG. 1) to hold the workpiece 18(see FIG. 1) against the upper pressure bushing 70 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B)on the upper head 48.

The step of controlling 252 (see FIG. 17) the numerical control drillingand riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of the lowerpressure bushing 50, on the lower head 46, to apply the clamping force72 to hold the workpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70 on theupper head 48 may further comprise, controlling the numerical controldrilling and riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of thelower pressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46, to apply the clampingforce 72 to hold the workpiece 18 comprising a composite workpiece 18 a(see FIG. 1).

The step of controlling 252 (see FIG. 17) the numerical control drillingand riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of the lowerpressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46, to apply the clamping force 72to hold the workpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70 on theupper head 48 may further comprise, controlling the numerical controldrilling and riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of thelower pressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46, to apply the clampingforce 72 to hold the workpiece 18 comprising a first composite aircraftcomponent 34 b (see FIG. 1) and a second composite aircraft component 38b (see FIG. 1) fastened together.

The step of controlling 252 (see FIG. 17) the numerical control drillingand riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of the lowerpressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46, to apply the clamping force 72to hold the workpiece 18 against the upper pressure bushing 70 on theupper head 48 may further comprise, controlling the numerical controldrilling and riveting machine 10 a, to control the movement 212 of thelower pressure bushing 50 on the lower head 46, to apply the clampingforce 72 to hold the workpiece 18 comprising an aircraft trailing-edgecontrol surface 18 b (see FIG. 1) comprised of a first compositeaircraft component 34 b fastened to a second composite aircraftcomponent 38 b.

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 further comprises the step ofcontrolling 254, using the controller 192, movement 214 (see FIG. 1) ofthe upper drill spindle 78 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 7) on the upper head 48, todrill the rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11A, 16C) from a portion20 a (see FIG. 16C) of the upper side 20 (see FIGS. 1, 16C) of theworkpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 16C), and to countersink the rivet-receivinghole 82, to obtain an upper countersink 84 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of therivet-receiving hole 82.

The step of controlling 254 (see FIG. 17) the upper drill spindle 78 todrill the rivet-receiving hole 82 may further comprise, controlling theupper drill spindle 78 to drill the rivet-receiving hole 82 comprising aclearance fit rivet-receiving hole 82 a (see FIGS. 1, 11A, 15).

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 further comprises the step ofcontrolling 256, using the controller 192, movement 216 (see FIG. 1) ofthe lower drill spindle 74 (see FIGS. 1, 2A, 16D) on the lower head 46,to countersink the rivet-receiving hole 82 from a portion 26 a (see FIG.16D) of the lower side 26 (see FIGS. 1, 16D) of the workpiece 18 (seeFIGS. 1, 16D), to obtain the lower countersink 86 (see FIG. 1) of therivet-receiving hole 82.

The step of controlling 256 (see FIG. 17) the lower drill spindle 74 tocountersink the rivet-receiving hole 82, to obtain the lower countersink86 may further comprise, controlling the movement 216 of the lower drillspindle 74 to counterbore the rivet-receiving hole 82 from the lowerside 26 of the workpiece 18, to obtain a counterbored countersink 87(see FIGS. 1, 14, 15).

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 further comprises the step ofcontrolling 258, using the controller 192, movement 218 (see FIG. 1) ofthe upper anvil 80 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B, 8B) on the upper head 48 fromthe retracted position 180 a (see FIG. 16D) to the installation position180 b (see FIG. 16E), in which the upper anvil 80 is aligned in thealigned position 182 (see FIG. 16E) with the end opening 154 (see FIG.16E) of the upper pressure bushing 70 (see FIG. 16E) and aligned withthe rivet-receiving hole 82, to insert the semi-tubular fastener rivet14 (see FIGS. 10A, 16E) in the rivet-receiving hole 82.

The step of controlling 258 (see FIG. 17) the movement 218 of the upperanvil 80, in which the upper anvil 80 is aligned to insert thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 in the rivet-receiving hole 82, mayfurther comprise, controlling the movement 218 of the upper anvil 80, inwhich the upper anvil 80 is aligned to insert the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 (see FIGS. 10A, 11A) comprising a head portion 222 (see FIGS.10A, 11A) that is positioned in the upper countersink 84 (see FIG. 11A)and is substantially flush with an upper surface plane 24 (see FIGS. 1,11A) of the upper surface 22 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) on the upper side 20(see FIGS. 1, 11A) of the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 1, 11A), when thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is installed in the rivet-receiving hole82 (see FIG. 11A).

The step of controlling 258 (see FIG. 17) the movement 218 of the upperanvil 80, in which the upper anvil 80 is aligned to insert thesemi-tubular fastener rivet 14 in the rivet-receiving hole 82 mayfurther comprise, controlling the movement 218 of the upper anvil 80, inwhich the upper anvil 80 is aligned to insert the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 comprising a titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a (seeFIGS. 1, 10A).

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 further comprises the step ofcontrolling 260, using the controller 192, movement 220 (see FIG. 1) ofthe lower anvil 76 (see FIGS. 1, 2A-2B, 4C, 16E), to apply the upsetforce 118 (see FIG. 1) to the tail portion 120 (see FIGS. 1, 10A,11A-11B) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 installed in therivet-receiving hole 82, where the controller 192 is configured tomonitor, and monitors, the load cell 136 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) for providingthe signal 138 (see FIG. 1) indicative of a level 119 (see FIG. 1) ofthe upset force 118 applied by the lower anvil 76.

The controller 192 is configured to control the movement 220 of thelower anvil 76 to apply the upset force 118 to the tail portion 120 ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 installed in the rivet-receiving hole82, without exceeding the predetermined upset force 118 a (see FIG. 1).The controller 192 is further configured to direct movement 196 (seeFIG. 1) of the nose 102 (see FIGS. 1, 4A-4C) of the lower anvil 76within the lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of therivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) to the nominal distance 134(see FIG. 1) beyond the lower surface plane 30 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) of thelower surface 28 (see FIGS. 1, 11A) on the lower side 26 (see FIG. 1) ofthe workpiece 18 (see FIG. 1), such that the nose 102 (see FIG. 4A) ofthe lower anvil 76 (see FIG. 4A) applies the upset force 118 to the tailportion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 and forms the flarecontour 130 (see FIGS. 1, 11B), such as the predetermined flare contour130 a (see FIGS. 1, 11B), in the tail portion 120 (see FIG. 11B) withinthe lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 1, 11B), and such that thepredetermined flare contour 130 a (see FIGS. 1, 11B) is beneath thelower surface 28 (see FIG. 11B) of the workpiece 18 (see FIG. 11B).

The step of controlling 260 (see FIG. 17) the movement 220 of the loweranvil 76 may further comprise, using the contoured rivet die 122 (seeFIGS. 1, 12) with the lower anvil 76, where the contoured rivet die 122is configured to form the predetermined flare contour 130 a (see FIG.11B) comprising a generally trumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b (seeFIGS. 1, 11B) in the tail portion 120 (see FIG. 11B) of the semi-tubularfastener rivet 14 (see FIG. 11B).

As shown in FIG. 17, the method 250 may optionally further comprise,prior to controlling 260 the movement 220 of the lower anvil 76, thestep of obtaining 262 the measurement 200 (see FIG. 1) of the distance202 (see FIG. 1) between the upper pressure bushing 70 and the lowerpressure bushing 50, representing the workpiece thickness 32 (see FIGS.1, 16A), and determining, via the controller 192 (see FIGS. 2A, 9), theworkpiece thickness 32 within which the zone constraint 204 (see FIG. 1)is defined by the controller 192 for limiting travel 206 (see FIG. 1) oftooling within the zone constraint 204, such as limiting travel 206 (seeFIG. 1) of the lower anvil 76 in a direction of moving towards theinstallation position 114 b (see FIG. 16E), to avoid collision 208 (seeFIG. 1) with the workpiece 18. The controller 192 is configured todirect movement 210 (see FIG. 1) beyond the zone constraint 204 of thenose 102 of the lower anvil 76 into the lower countersink 86 of therivet-receiving hole 82, to apply the upset force 118 (see FIG. 1) tothe tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, such thatthe lower anvil 76 causes flaring of the tail portion 120 within thelower countersink 86 of the rivet-receiving hole 82.

Now referring to FIG. 18, FIG. 18 is an illustration of a perspectiveview of an air vehicle 270, such as in the form of an aircraft 270 a,incorporating a riveted structure 288, such as a riveted aircraftstructure 290, having semi-tubular fastener rivets 14 with flared tailportions 120 b (see FIGS. 11B, 13, 15) using the method 250 (see FIG.17) of automated installation 12 and using the automated rivet apparatus10 (see FIGS. 1, 2A), such as the numerical control drilling andriveting machine 10 a (see FIGS. 1, 2A), of the disclosure. As furthershown in FIG. 18, the air vehicle 270, such as in the form of aircraft270 a, comprises a fuselage 272, a nose 274, a cockpit 276, wings 278,engines 280, and an empennage 282 comprising a vertical stabilizer 284and horizontal stabilizers 286. Although the aircraft 270 a shown inFIG. 18 is generally representative of a commercial passenger aircrafthaving one or more riveted structures 288, such as one or more rivetedaircraft structures 290, the teachings of the disclosed versions andexamples may be applied to other passenger aircraft. For example, theteachings of the disclosed versions and examples may be applied to cargoaircraft, military aircraft, rotorcraft, and other types of aircraft oraerial vehicles, as well as aerospace vehicles, satellites, space launchvehicles, rockets, and other aerospace vehicles.

Now referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of anembodiment of an aircraft manufacturing and service method 300, and FIG.20 is an illustration of a functional block diagram of an embodiment ofan aircraft 316. Referring to FIGS. 19-20, versions of the disclosuremay be described in the context of the aircraft manufacturing andservice method 300, as shown in FIG. 19, and the aircraft 316, as shownin FIG. 20. During pre-production, the exemplary aircraft manufacturingand service method 300 (see FIG. 19) may include specification anddesign 302 (see FIG. 19) of the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20) and materialprocurement 304 (see FIG. 19). During manufacturing, component andsubassembly manufacturing 306 (see FIG. 19) and system integration 308(see FIG. 19) of the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20) takes place. Thereafter,the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20) may go through certification and delivery310 (see FIG. 19) in order to be placed in service 312 (see FIG. 19).While in service 312 (see FIG. 19) by a customer, the aircraft 316 (seeFIG. 20) may be scheduled for routine maintenance and service 314 (seeFIG. 19), which may also include modification, reconfiguration,refurbishment, and other suitable services.

Each of the processes of the aircraft manufacturing and service method300 (see FIG. 19) may be performed or carried out by a systemintegrator, a third party, and/or an operator (e.g., a customer). Forthe purposes of this description, a system integrator may include,without limitation, any number of aircraft manufacturers andmajor-system subcontractors; a third party may include, withoutlimitation, any number of vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers; and anoperator may include an airline, leasing company, military entity,service organization, and other suitable operators.

As shown in FIG. 20, the aircraft 316 produced by the exemplary aircraftmanufacturing and service method 300 may include an airframe 318 with aplurality of systems 320 and an interior 322. As further shown in FIG.20, examples of the systems 320 may include one or more of a propulsionsystem 324, an electrical system 326, a hydraulic system 328, and anenvironmental system 330. Any number of other systems may be included.Although an aerospace example is shown, the principles of the disclosuremay be applied to other industries, such as the automotive industry,including automotive vehicles, the marine industry, includingwatercraft, ships, and submarines, and other suitable industries.

Methods and systems embodied herein may be employed during any one ormore of the stages of the aircraft manufacturing and service method 300(see FIG. 19). For example, components or subassemblies corresponding tocomponent and subassembly manufacturing 306 (see FIG. 19) may befabricated or manufactured in a manner similar to components orsubassemblies produced while the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20) is inservice 312 (see FIG. 19). Also, one or more method embodiments, systemembodiments, or a combination thereof, may be utilized during componentand subassembly manufacturing 306 (see FIG. 19) and system integration308 (see FIG. 19), for example, by substantially expediting assembly of,or reducing the cost of, the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20). Similarly, oneor more of method versions, system versions, or a combination thereof,may be utilized while the aircraft 316 (see FIG. 20) is in service 312(see FIG. 19), for example and without limitation, to maintenance andservice 314 (see FIG. 19).

Disclosed versions of the automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1), andthe method 250 (see FIG. 17) provide for an automated installationprocess 240 (see FIGS. 16A-16F) for riveting structures 16 (see FIG. 1),such as workpieces 18 (see FIG. 1), and preferably composite workpieces18 a (see FIG. 1), or other composite or carbon fiber structures, usingsemi-tubular fastener rivets 14 (see FIGS. 1, 10A), or hollow-endedrivets, having tail portions 120 (see FIGS. 1, 10A) with a hollow area232 (see FIG. 10C), or a hollow end, that undergo flaring to have aflare contour 130 (see FIGS. 1, 13), such as a generally trumpet-shapedflare contour 130 b (see FIGS. 1, 13). The automated rivet apparatus 10(see FIG. 1) and the method 250 (see FIG. 17) provide for the automatedinstallation process 240 (see FIGS. 16A-16F) for successfully installingsemi-tubular fastener rivets 14, such as titanium semi-tubular fastenerrivets 14 a, in structures 16, such as composite structures, without theissues of known manual rivet installation.

Unlike solid rivets that do not have a hollow end and that may crack ordelaminate composite material or carbon fibers if riveted and installedin such composite material or carbon fibers due to radial expansion ofthe shank of the solid rivet, the semi-tubular fastener rivets 14 (seeFIGS. 1, 10A) having tail portions 120 (see FIGS. 1, 10A) each with ahollow area 232 (see FIG. 10C) or a hollow end, used in the disclosedautomated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) and method 250 (see FIG.17) can be installed in composite structures or carbon fiber structures,without cracking or delaminating the composite material or carbon fibersof the composite structures, such as the composite workpieces 18 a. Withthe disclosed automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIGS. 1, 2A) and method250 (see FIG. 17), only the flared tail portion 120 b (see FIGS. 11B,13) is expanded into the lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 11B, 13), andthe shank portion 224 (see FIGS. 10A, 10C) is not radially expanded inthe rivet-receiving hole 82 (see FIGS. 11B, 13) or lower countersink 86.Instead of filling up the lower countersink 86 with a smashed rivettail, a contoured rivet die 122 (see FIG. 12) is used with the loweranvil 76 (see FIGS. 1, 4C), which is controlled with a controller 192(see FIGS. 1, 2A), where the lower anvil 76 applies an upset force 118(see FIG. 1), or squeeze force or flaring force, to the tail portion 120(see FIGS. 1, 10A) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (see FIGS. 1,10A), to form the flare contour 130 (see FIGS. 11B, 13), such as thegenerally trumpet-shaped flare contour 130 b (see FIGS. 11B, 13), thatconforms to or matches the lower countersink 86 (see FIGS. 11B, 13)formed by the lower drill spindle 74.

In addition, disclosed versions of the automated rivet apparatus 10 (seeFIG. 1), and the method 250 (see FIG. 17) provide for an automatedinstallation 12 (see FIG. 1) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (seeFIGS. 10A, 13), such as the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 a(see FIGS. 10A, 13), in a rapid automated installation process 240 (seeFIGS. 16A-16F) that may be completed in approximately 7 (seven) secondsper semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 installed. In contrast, manualinstallation of semi-tubular fastener rivets in workpieces may take morethan approximately 7 (seven) minutes to drill and install manually asingle semi-tubular fastener rivet. Thus, the automated rivet apparatus10 (see FIG. 1), and the method 250 (see FIG. 17) provide for automatedinstallation 12 (see FIG. 1) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (seeFIGS. 10A, 13) in the workpiece 18 in a rapid manner that may result insignificant time savings and labor savings, as compared to known manualrivet installation methods. Time and labor savings, may, in turn, resultin decreased overall aircraft manufacturing and assembly costs.

Moreover, disclosed versions of the automated rivet apparatus 10 (seeFIG. 1), and the method 250 (see FIG. 17) provide for automatedinstallation 12 (see FIG. 1) of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 (seeFIGS. 10A, 13) in the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 16A-16F), and thus avoidmanual installation of semi-tubular fastener rivets in workpieces, whichmanual installation may require the use of multiple individual processesand tools, such as drills, countersinks, gauges, and squeeze devices,and which manual installation may result in oversized holes, irregularsqueeze or flares, and potential costly rework. With the disclosedautomated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1) and method 250 (see FIG. 17)for automated installation 12 (see FIG. 1) of the semi-tubular fastenerrivet 14 (see FIGS. 10A, 13) in the workpiece 18 (see FIGS. 16A-16F),any possible oversized holes, irregular squeeze or flares, and potentialcostly rework that may be associated with manual installation, areavoided. In addition, with automated installation 12, the flaring of thetail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14 is of a highquality and avoids cracked flared tail portions and damage to assembliesthat may be associated with manual installation.

Further, automated installation 12 of the semi-tubular fastener rivets14 in the workpiece 18 with the automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIG.1), and the method 250 (see FIG. 17) may result in a superior fastenedjoint, may significantly reduce installation cycle times and costlyrework associated with manually installed rivets, may eliminate or avoidthe use of bulky, non-ergonomically designed hand tools associated withmanual installation, and may provide high quality automatic flaring ofthe tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14, orhollow-ended rivet, without cracks or damage. In addition, the automatedinstallation 12 of the semi-tubular fastener rivets 14 in the workpiece18 with the automated rivet apparatus 10 (see FIG. 1), and the method250 (see FIG. 17) utilizes robust machine components, including theupper drill spindle 78 and the lower drill spindle 74 for accuratepreparation and countersinking of the rivet-receiving hole 82, utilizesthe selection of the appropriate grip length of the semi-tubularfastener rivets 14 for a given material thickness, such as the workpiecethickness 32 (see FIG. 16A), and utilizes rigid machine heads, such asthe upper anvil 80 and the lower anvil 74, for concentric squeezing andflaring of the tail portion 120 of the semi-tubular fastener rivet 14.This results in a controlled, ergonomically friendly, and expeditiousautomated installation process 240 (see FIGS. 16A-16F) for installationof semi-tubular fastener rivets 14 having tail portions 120 each with ahollow area 232 (see FIG. 11B), or hollow end, that can undergoautomated flaring.

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come tomind to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains havingthe benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions andthe associated drawings. The embodiments described herein are meant tobe illustrative and are not intended to be limiting or exhaustive.Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a genericand descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Anyclaimed embodiment of the disclosure does not necessarily include all ofthe embodiments of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automated rivet apparatus for installing asemi-tubular fastener rivet, the automated rivet apparatus comprising: anumerical control drilling and riveting machine comprising: a lower headcomprising: a lower pressure bushing applying a clamping force to clampa workpiece against an upper pressure bushing; a lower drill spindlecountersinking a rivet-receiving hole from a lower side of theworkpiece; and a lower anvil that is movable and applies an upset forceto a tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet, the lower anvilcoupled to a load cell for providing a signal indicative of a level ofthe upset force applied by the lower anvil; and an upper headcomprising: the upper pressure bushing contacting an upper side of theworkpiece; an upper drill spindle that drills the rivet-receiving holein the upper side of the workpiece and that countersinks therivet-receiving hole, to obtain an upper countersink of therivet-receiving hole; an upper anvil that holds the semi-tubularfastener rivet and is movable between a retracted position and aninstallation position, in which the upper anvil is aligned to insert thesemi-tubular fastener rivet in the rivet-receiving hole, wherein thelower drill spindle on the lower head countersinks the rivet-receivinghole from the lower side of the workpiece, to obtain a lower countersinkof the rivet-receiving hole; and a controller, that controls the upperdrill spindle to drill and to countersink the rivet-receiving hole fromthe upper side of the workpiece, and that controls the lower drillspindle to countersink the rivet-receiving hole from the lower side ofthe workpiece, and that controls moving the upper anvil to theinstallation position, to install the semi-tubular fastener rivet in therivet-receiving hole, wherein the controller controls moving the loweranvil to apply the upset force to the tail portion of the semi-tubularfastener rivet installed in the rivet-receiving hole, without exceedinga predetermined upset force, and wherein the controller directs movementof a nose of the lower anvil within the lower countersink of therivet-receiving hole to a nominal distance beyond a lower surface planeof a lower surface on the lower side of the workpiece, such that thenose of the lower anvil applies the upset force to the tail portion ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet and forms a predetermined flare contourin the tail portion within the lower countersink, and such that thepredetermined flare contour is beneath the lower surface of theworkpiece.
 2. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a measurement of a distance between the upper pressurebushing and the lower pressure bushing, representing a workpiecethickness, wherein the controller determines the workpiece thicknesswithin which a zone constraint is defined by the controller for limitingtravel of the lower anvil, to avoid collision with the workpiece, andwherein the controller directs movement beyond the zone constraint ofthe nose of the lower anvil into the lower countersink of therivet-receiving hole, to apply the upset force to the tail portion ofthe semi-tubular fastener rivet, such that the lower anvil causesflaring of the tail portion within the lower countersink of therivet-receiving hole.
 3. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1,wherein the lower anvil includes a contoured rivet die configured toform the predetermined flare contour comprising a generallytrumpet-shaped flare contour in the tail portion of the semi-tubularfastener rivet.
 4. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 3, wherein thecontoured rivet die applies the upset force, via the lower anvil, toupset the tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet outwardlytoward a lower countersink surface of the lower countersink, to move thetail portion beyond a hole diameter of the tail portion in an unflaredposition, so that the tail portion is formed in a flared position. 5.The automated rivet apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller directsmovement beyond a zone constraint of the nose of the lower anvil intothe lower countersink of the rivet-receiving hole, such that the loweranvil moves past the lower surface plane the nominal distance for thecontoured rivet die to outwardly flare the tail portion of thesemi-tubular fastener rivet that protrudes out of the rivet-receivinghole.
 6. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the workpiececomprises a composite workpiece.
 7. The automated rivet apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the workpiece comprises a first composite aircraftcomponent and a second composite aircraft component fastened together.8. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the workpiececomprises an aircraft trailing-edge control surface comprised of a firstcomposite aircraft component fastened to a second composite aircraftcomponent.
 9. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1, wherein therivet-receiving hole is a clearance fit rivet-receiving hole.
 10. Theautomated rivet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lower countersinkcomprises a counterbored countersink.
 11. The automated rivet apparatusof claim 1, wherein the semi-tubular fastener rivet has a head portionthat is positioned in the upper countersink and is substantially flushwith an upper surface plane of an upper surface on the upper side of theworkpiece, when the semi-tubular fastener rivet is installed in therivet-receiving hole.
 12. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 1,wherein the semi-tubular fastener rivet comprises a titaniumsemi-tubular fastener rivet.
 13. The automated rivet apparatus of claim12, wherein the titanium semi-tubular fastener rivet is a hollow-endedrivet with the tail portion having a hole comprising a hollow areawithin the tail portion.
 14. The automated rivet apparatus of claim 13,wherein the hole comprising the hollow area receives a contoured rivetdie, when the lower anvil uses the contoured rivet die to form thepredetermined flare contour comprising a generally trumpet-shaped flarecontour in the tail portion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet.
 15. Theautomated rivet apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load cell is locatedwithin the lower head of the automated rivet apparatus, and the loadcell monitors the upset force applied by the lower anvil to the tailportion of the semi-tubular fastener rivet installed in therivet-receiving hole in the workpiece, and the controller monitors theload cell for providing the signal indicative of the level of the upsetforce applied by the lower anvil.